7.1. Exam Strategy

Understanding the Exam Format

The CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 exam consists of up to 90 questions to be completed in 90 minutes, with a passing score of 750 on a scale of 100-900. Questions are a mix of multiple-choice, multiple-response (select two or more), and performance-based questions (PBQs). PBQs appear first and simulate real-world scenarios — they may involve configuring a firewall, matching threats to mitigations, or analyzing a network diagram.

Time Management

With 90 minutes for up to 90 questions, you have approximately one minute per question. However, PBQs take significantly longer — budget 3-5 minutes each.

Recommended approach:

1. Flag PBQs and move on — review them after completing all multiple-choice questions. PBQs are time-intensive and may rattle your confidence if you struggle early.
2. First pass (60 minutes) — answer every question you're confident about. Flag anything that requires more than 90 seconds of thought.
3. Second pass (20 minutes) — return to flagged questions with fresh perspective.
4. Final pass (10 minutes) — review PBQs and any remaining flagged questions.

Question Approach

For multiple-choice:

• Read the ENTIRE question, including all answer choices, before answering
• Identify what's being asked — "BEST answer," "FIRST step," "MOST likely," and "PRIMARY purpose" are all asking different things
• Eliminate obviously wrong answers first — usually 2 of 4 can be eliminated quickly
• When two answers seem correct, re-read the question for the qualifier ("MOST appropriate," "BEST," "FIRST")

For multiple-response:

• The question tells you how many to select — don't select more or fewer
• Apply the same elimination strategy

For PBQs:

• Read all instructions carefully before interacting
• Partial credit is usually available — even incomplete answers earn points
• Don't spend more than 5 minutes on a single PBQ

Common Exam Traps